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I Come To The Garden Alone

I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

Words and Music by C. Austin Miles, 1912

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
1 King 19:11 – 13

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:15 – 16

We live in a hectic and busy world. It seems we always have something on our plate. I know personally, those times when there is nothing on the schedule are few and far between. Between working full-time (which typically pushes over 40 hours a week, being a leader in two separate youth organizations and ministry involvement, which includes both regular preaching and writing, I have very few down hours. Add on top of that activities of for my wife and three children, there are times when having nothing to do is simply a fantasy.

Now, on those rare occasions when we do have free time, what do we do with it. We try to find other activities. And if we are not doing something else, then we will often find ourselves with the television or radio going. Down time is rare and silence almost seems taboo.

As I look at the words of Miles’ hymn, “In The Garden” I am struck by the clear theme of peace and rest. From the beginning we read, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.” This is something we have lost, and something that we so desperately need. Time set aside from the rush of activities and the constant barrage of noise. This is what the Psalmist refers to when he writes, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

The distractions of our daily lives can so easily get in the way of knowing God. We do not take the time to listen for God’s voice. We miss the sweet joy about which Miles writes, “And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.” It is in the peace of the garden, when everything else is set aside, that we can hear God’s voice. It is then that we can hear the gentle whisper of 1 Kings 19:11 – 13.

We all need time alone with God. Jesus, the very Son of God, understood this need. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” If Jesus saw this need, how much more do each of us need it as well.

Yes, we need to take time away from our hectic lives to be alone with God. To listen for His voice. To know Him. “In The Garden” reminds us that when we take this time, we can share the joy that can come only from walking and talking with our Lord alone.